14 years ago

The moon was just setting below the horizon as Arriane awoke groggily and gazed around the tent. She could remember how unusual it had been at first- to sleep under furs, with a solid and secure roof above her head and a bowl of fresh meat next to her pillow, ready for when she woke up. She felt guilty. If only the other members of the pack could have the same luxury.

This is what being a enaid cymar alffa entails, Arriane reminded herself as she gazed over at her sleeping husband, it means having to learn to love luxury, it means having to learn to live with more than others.

Arriane got up carefully, taking a small piece of meat and walking towards where her young daughter was sleeping, furs wrapped tightly around her to protect her from the bitter cold Snowdonia winter winds.

Arianne rolled her eyes and shook her head sighing as looked at the little group. Jana knew better, Arianne thought, but she could hardly judge her. She shared whatever she could with Ceri.

Rhydian slept with a protective arm drapped around Jana, hugging her tightly. On the other side of the red haired girl, slept another girl, the same age as Jana, born in the same month, with hair the colour of a field of wheat.

Nia. Arianne smiled, it was about time that Jana had a friend of her own age who was a girl. Meinir and Hafren were too old for toddler's games, and both had spiteful tempers. Aran, whilst mostly friendly, wasn't really on their level either. Yes, Jana had Rhydian, but they were betrothed. Before long their friendship would develop into something deeper. Arianne and Ceri had been best friends ever since Arianne joined the pack at the age of nine. Arianne wanted Jana to have someone like Ceri in her life, a best friend who would be there for her no matter what.

Nia fidgetted kicking off the blankets and sitting up groggily, before her eyes widden in shock.

She jumped up fast, and bowed her head quickly, "I'm so sorry, my alpha. I know I shouldn't be here. I'm so sorry."

Arianne reached out to stroke the young girl's hair- how she wished she could have more children of her own- she wanted Jana to have brothers and sisters. She knew Jana would be a good older sister.

"Don't fret, dear," Arianne said, before looking over at Alric,"You're welcome here, no matter what that grumpy old fool says."

Nia looked at Arriane with surprised turquoise eyes. She never thought anyone would dare to insult their alpha, no matter their rank.

"Here," Arianne said, passing the piece of meat to the young girl, who looked at as if she were handling a rare precious crystal.

"Thank you!" Nia answered exuberantly.

"Arianne!" Alric yelled, woken up by the young cub, "What on earth is going on?"

"It was awfully cold outside last night," Arianne began.

Alric shook his head, "Not again. You need to talk to Jana about this."

"Papa?" the young red haired girl said, batting away her messy curly hair from her eyes, as she sat up wearily.

"Jana," Alric began, with a sigh, "You know the rules. Beta cubs have to sleep outside with the other members of the pack. It's tradition."

Jana stood up wobbily before racing over to grab the bowl of meat. She turned to look at her father with a stubborn grimace, "I hate tradition."

Alric and Arianne watched in defeat as the three cubs raced out into the woods beyond.

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"Nia!" Jana yelled as she raced after her friend, "No! Stop! We're going to get into so much trouble!"

"I'm not afraid of humans," Nia said with a grin, "Come on! Let's go ask them if they want to play."

Jana stood still, shaking her head, "My Papa already thinks you're a bad in-flu-enz on me. He won't let us be friends if he finds out we've been playing with human cubs."

Nia looked at her friend with a serious and worried look on her face, "I don't care what Alric says, you'll always be my best friend."

"I know," Jana answered, "I'll always be your best friend too. But this is just a bad idea. What would Auntie Ceri say if-?"

"If what?" their aunt answered, appearing suddenly and making the young cubs jump.

"Nothing," Nia said guiltily, staring at her boots.

"We wanted to follow you," Jana said, "To learn more about herbs, we find it fascinating. Then we saw the humans nearby and I said I wanted to go back to camp."

Ceri gave the cubs a doubtful look, "Really? You two have never shown the slightest interest in herbology before. The last time I tried to teach you, you both fell asleep during my lesson!"

Jana bit her lip, "I think I was still feeling poorly then. Mama said I should have been resting instead of going to lessons."

"Your Mama!" Ceri began, shaking her head, "She might be my alpha but I keep telling her that she's making all the wrong decisions. If she had her way, you'd be wrapped up in furs all day long with servants to feed you and give you whatever you want! You need to grow up to be a strong alpha, not a little puppy!"

"Don't you dare call Jana a little puppy!" Nia yelled, flashing her eyes yellow.

"I am an alpha!" Jana yelled defiantly.

"I never said you weren't young lady," Ceri replied, "Nia, don't be so rude! Now, let's go find Rhydian. I just hope he isn't teasing Meinir again."

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Present Day

"It's a dark moon, isn't it?" Katrina asked as she saw Jana knock over a stack of plastic cups that were waiting to be washed up, "You can always take the day off."

Jana smiled, "Thanks, Katrina, but I'd rather keep working and Aran's coming over later today and I've sworn that I'd make him try chicken tikka massala. If I go back to bed now, I won't wake up until tomorrow."

Katrina smiled, "Well good luck with that. Wild-bloods and curry, not sure if that's the greatest idea."

"I like curry," Jana answered, "Besides, it's the only way to get Meinir to eat human food. She can't live on just meat now. If Aran says it's safe, then Meinir won't be so afraid. Then again, she might just be afraid of Gerwyn's cooking."

Katrina laughed, "He's a really bad cook, isn't he?"

Jana nodded, "But until Ceri can slightly get over her fear of fire then it's the only option. Well, at least for the next week."

Katrina gave Jana a questioning look, "Jana? What's going on?"

Jana bit her lip trying not to say anything, but failing, "Ok, ok. Rhydian and Maddy are coming back for the summer!"

"Oh my God!" Katrina yelled, "Seriously?"

Jana nodded, "I've missed them so much! Everything's been so crazy as well, what with the secret being out, I think I've Skyped Rhydian once in the past month. He probably thinks I've been kidnapped or something. I've been trying to text him but you know what the signal's like in wild Montreal."

Katrina grinned, "We'll have to get everyone together- Kay and Kara, the pack. I wonder what Rhydian's going to think now, you know, you and Matei are..."

"He'll just have to get used to it," Jana answered, "He's my brother but he's not the boss of me."

"How things have changed," Katrina started, "It wasn't so long ago that Rhydian was always protecting you. Whenever anything happened he was the one who was there to get you out of trouble. Now you're your own alpha."

Jana sighed, "I know, but, like you say, Rhydian was the one who always got me out of trouble. If he was here, if Maddy was here, I wonder if we'd have needed to reveal the secret. I bet they would have come up with something better..."

"Like mauling Sweeney?" Katrina answered, "Because that was Matei's plan. I don't think Rhydian's would have been much different, not after she tried to take your wolf away."

"Er, well," Jana began quickly, "Rhydian doesn't know about that."

"What?" Katrina exploded, "You mean you haven't told him?"

"I don't know, I just can't," Jana answered frustratedly, before her phone began to ring loudly.

She reached to grab it off the counter, and as she looked up she felt her heart skip with shock and fear.

"Jana, Jana," Katrina said, "What's wrong?"

"Hello, Jana," the young girl said as she walked towards the red haired girl, "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

"Nia," Jana answered in trembling voice, "What on earth are you doing here?"